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Unit 9: What was life like in wartime Germany, 1939-45?The Events of the WarThe Outbreak of War September 1939: Poland was invaded and conquered by Germany Britain and France joined war But by end of 1940: France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Norway and Luxembourg had been conquered = ToV avenged and European domination achieved Britain remained ­ mainly because Hitler became focussed on Soviet Union June 1941: Germany invaded RussiaOperation Barbarossa Despite 1939 signing of Soviet Pact ­ Hitler was always intending to…read more

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Unit 9: What was life like in wartime Germany, 1939-45? Feb 1941: German troops invaded North Africa in support of Italian Allies After a series of impressive victories May 1941: Invaded Egypt but British counter attacked But British preoccupied with Japan ­ Germany managed to capture part of Egypt and 30,000 prisoners However, German advance halted when defeated by British troops Anglo-American forces defeat Germany in Morocco May 1943: Axis forces in North Africa = surrenderedItaly: September 1943: Allies invade Italy ­ Italy surrendered…read more

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Unit 9: What was life like in wartime Germany, 1939-45? Very few Germans wanted war - but there was bedrock support for 1939 regime Support even during war ­ mainly because Regime was sensitive to issues of rationing/shortages on home front ­ govt didn't want repetition of rationing from WW1 Despite rationing ­ considerable consumer sacrifices not made until 1942 1939: Rationing introduced ­ fair + sufficient ­ but quality decline However, as parts of Europe conquered - improvement in general supply of foodstuffs (especially…read more

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Unit 9: What was life like in wartime Germany, 1939-45? 300,000 Germans killed by Allied bombing, 700,000 injured and 2 million homes destroyed German tried to provide bomb victims with accommodation and financial compensation `Blitz' spirit maintained by many ­ but By 1943: population of some areas (like Rhineland) bombed and demoralised Worsened by approach of Soviet armies Morale sank even lower ­ after weapons were ineffective against Allies Goebbels tried to raise morale: commissioned blockbuster escapist films (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen - 1943)…read more

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Unit 9: What was life like in wartime Germany, 1939-45? Thereafter ­ opposition came from individuals and small underground groups (rather than single group) KPD and SPD formed small groups, published reports and maintained contact with exiled leaders Red Orchestra ­ anti-Nazi communist group formed ­ resistance cells set up [coordinated by Uhrig]: 1941: 90 resistance cells in Berlin Produced paper/pamphlets attacking regime and calling for resistance However, communist resistance = vulnerable to Gestapo infiltration 1943: Communist movement collapsed ­ leader captured Individual acts: Jewish…read more

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Unit 9: What was life like in wartime Germany, 1939-45? Many were arrested, tortured and executedArmy 1939: Army had become subordinate part of regime Oath of allegiance = loyalty to Hitler Blitzkrieg victories = Hitler military Genius 1943: some dissidents emerged: Some: result of long term opposition to regime they had morally despised from beginning Majority: Opposition more pragmatic: Increasing political interference of SS = intolerable Generals on eastern front ­ shocked by atrocities committed against regime enemies and implementation of extermination For most:…read more

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Unit 9: What was life like in wartime Germany, 1939-45? Therefore Army resistance confined to few individuals = leadership to naive and isolated to pose real threat Bomb plot = partly restores some dignity/respect to army ­ but the failure did not restore the tarnished image of the army 1945: Total defeat = shattered myths of military invincibility + `stab in the back'The German War EconomyWar Production Outbreak of war 1939: planning for war economy = split among competing agencies: Ministry of War…read more

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Unit 9: What was life like in wartime Germany, 1939-45? = Speer controls all industrial output and raw materialsRadicalisation Speer aimed to introduce labour, time and space saving measures = boosting production 1943: Armaments Commission ­ to standardise production ­ allowing greater production: More floor space = production of Me109 at 1000 a month Reduced number of different tank/vehicle models = greater productivity Central control of raw materials and more realistic contracts = rise in armament output Better processes = cut amount of raw…read more